Clinical effect of vitamin D combined with the Early Start Denver Model in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder in toddlers / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical effect of vitamin D (VitD) combined with the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in toddlers.@*METHODS@#A total of 102 toddlers with ASD, aged 1 to 3 years, were enrolled. According to the wishes of their parents, they were divided into conventional rehabilitation, ESDM and ESDM+VitD groups. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used evaluate behavior problems before treatment and after 3 months of treatment.@*RESULTS@#The conventional rehabilitation group had significant reductions in the total score and the scores on somatic movement and self-care subscales of the ABC scale after 3 months of treatment (P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the ESDM group had significant reductions in the total score and the scores on somatic movement, self-care, social interaction and language subscales of the ABC scale (P<0.05), as well as a significant reduction in the total score of the CARS (P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the ESDM+VitD group had a significant increase in the level of 25(OH)D and significant reductions in the total score and the scores on self-care, sensation, social interaction and language subscales of the ABC scale (P<0.05), as well as a significant reduction in the total score of the CARS (P<0.05). The ESDM group had a significantly greater reduction in the score on social interaction subscale than the conventional rehabilitation group (P<0.05). The ESDM+VitD group had a significantly greater reduction in the score on social interaction subscale than the other two groups (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#ESDM can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of toddlers with ASD, with a significantly better clinical effect in improving social interaction and somatic movement than conventional rehabilitation. ESDM combined with VitD has a significantly better clinical effect in improving social communication skills and may be one of the best strategies for improving the clinical symptoms of toddlers with ASD.

Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in children with autism spectrum disorders / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to explore the relationship between vitamin D level and ASD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were determined by the HPLC-MS/MS method in 117 children with newly diagnosed ASD and 109 healthy controls. Vitamin D status were classified into normal (>30 ng/mL), insufficiency (10-30ng/mL) and deficiency (<10 ng/mL) according to 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (19±9 ng/mL)in children with ASD was significantly lower than that in healthy controls (36±13 ng/mL; P<0.01). The rate of vitamin D insufficiency plus deficiency in the ASD group was significantly higher than in the control group (89.7% vs 52.3%; P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is common in children with ASD and might be as one of the environmental or genetic factors for ASD.</p>

Effect of infra-low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic effects of infra-low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation in children with spastic cerebral palsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-five children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into two groups: control (n=33) and treatment groups (n=42). The treatment group accepted infra-low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation besides conventional comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. The control group only accepted conventional comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. Motor functions were assessed by gross motor function measure (GMFM) and fine motor function measure (FMFM) at one and three months after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Improvement in the ability to sit in the treatment was better than in the control group at one month after treatment (P<0.05). Improvement in the ability to sit, crawl and kneel, total score of GMFM, and improvement of joint active ability of limbs, grasping ability and operating ability in the treatment group were better than the control group at three months after treatment (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Infra-low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation can effectively improve motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.</p>